U^ HbTuiilCAL DISCOURSE: 

|Ql5B29j 



iBlMEMOKATIVE OF TffE 



SETTLEMENT OF GALESBURG, 

pri^ T\^ THE FIRST CHURCH OF GALESEURG 

CTTJlSrE 22, 1866. 
By Rev. FLAVEL BASGOM, 



A iOK.VER PASTOK OF THE CHVr.OH. 



A N D 



A STATISTICAL PAPER 



By Rev. FKEDERICK T. PERKINS, 



GALESBURG, ILL.: 

REE PRESS BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE. 
1866. 




Glass f5A<^ 

Book_ 



-^..-P^a 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE: 

COMMEMORATIVE OF THE 

SETTLEMENT OF GALESBURG. 

DELIVERED IN THE FIRST CHURCH OF GALESBURG, 

CTTJISrDEl 22, 1866. 



B y REV. FLAYEL BASOOM, 

A Former Pastor op the Church. 



AND 



A STATISTICAL PAPER 



By REV. FREDERIC T. PERKINS, 

Present Pastor of the Church. 



GALESBURG, ILL. 

FREE PRESS BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE. 






The ladies of the First Church in Galesburg, remembering all the \7ay in which the Lord 
had led their Pioneer Fathers and Mothers, resolved to commemorate thesettlem'fent of the 
place. The notice of the proposed celebration, published in the Free Press of June 17th, 
through the Chairman of their committee, Miss M. A. West, contains the following state- 
ment: 

"The First Church of this city propose commemorating the settlement of Galesburg by a 
" Historical Celebration on the 22d day of June. Thirty years ago this month, Galesburg 
" was founded by a noble band of men and women, who left home and friends in the East, not 
" in search of wealth, but simply to do good, by founding a village and a school, which should 
" be lights in a dark place. 

" One by one these fathers and mothers are passing from us; with them will die very much 
" that is valuable of the early history of this place. 

"We deem it therefore a duty to collect this history now while we may, for their names 
'* and the memory of their deeds we would not willingly let die." 

In preparing for the celebration, they engaged the Rev. Flavel Bascom— a former pastor of 
the church— to deliver a Historical Discourse, and the Rev. F. T. Perkins— the present pas- 
tor—to prepare a Statistical Paper, respecting the growth and business of the city. At the 
appointed time— June 22d, 1866— a congregation of old settlers and others gathered in the 
First Church, at 3 o'clock p. M., and listened to the following Discourse and Paper. 



J 6 



I 



HISTORJCAL DISCOURSE 



Colonization has always been one of God's Providential 
agencies for peopling the earth, and promoting a better civili- 
zation. Emigration has its disadvantages and dangers. Sol- 
itary families removing from the precincts of Christian civil, 
ization, into regions destitute of religious and educational 
Institutions, are liable to grow indifferent to learning and 
religion, and to drift in the direction of barbarism. This 
dangerous tendency is fully illustrated in the state of so. 
ciety in some sections of our Western country, where, remote 
from the atmosphere of social refinement, intellectual culture 
and religious sentiment, people that once had higher aspi- 
rations, have ceased to think of those things which are pure 
and lovely and of good report, and have become grovelling 
in their tastes, dissolute in their sentiments, and godless in 
their lives. 

But organized civilization aims to carry the influences of 
Christian civilization into new communities and to plant 
there the germs of religious and educational institutions, 
which shall spring up and keep progress with the growth of 
society, and ultimately fill the community with their preci- 
ous fruits. If this can be done, the evils of solitary emigra- 
tion are not only avoided, but some advantages are gained 
' of great value. Evils exist in old communities, and to^eme- 
dy them is not easy. Public sentiment is there conservative 
of wrong as well as right, customs are stereotyped, and he 
who sets himself to put away existing evils and reform so- 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



ciety, needs a power that can remove mountains. But where 
a new community is planted on virgin soil, it is easier to 
commence right, and form the sentiment and the habits of 
that community in conformity to right principles. The old 
shackles of custom are more easily broken, and old abuses 
discarded. 

When God therefore, as if despairing of bringing the 
whole race forward together in a process of intellectual and 
religious culture, called Abraham, with a small select com- 
pany from Ur, of the Chaldees, to go into Canaan, his object 
was by establishing a new community there, to secure an 
improved state of society, and raise up a community that 
should be the salt of the earth. It would be easy to show 
from history that by organized emigration, the arts and 
sciences, the blessings of civil liberty and true religion have 
been propagated in the world and preserved in all ages. The 
settlement of New England by Christian Colquies from 
Great Britain is an ever memorable example of the glorious 
possibilities of good from this instrumentality. Not only 
were important towns, and settlements, and churches built 
up by original colonies from the old world, but these settle- 
ments were ever sending out new colonies from themselves, 
to people new towns, and build up all the institutions of 
civilized and Christian communities. It was this mode of 
settlement, under the blessing of God, that made New Eng- 
land what it is, in intelligence and piety. And thus New 
England has been able to furnish no small portion of the 
intelligence and sterling moral principle that has saved the 
nation. 

It is not surprising that the descendants of the Pilgrims 
should have been inclined to settle the valley of the Missis 
sippi by colonies. In this way early settlements were made 
in Ohio, which were eminently successful, e. g., at Marietta 
on the south, and in many localities on the reserve. In 
this section of our own State, numerous colonies from 
different Eastern States were planted from twenty-live to 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



thirty-five years ago, with different objects and various 
doo-rees of success. Princeton was founded by a colony 
from Hampshire and Hamden counties, Massachusetts. 
Wethersfield and Andover were colonies from Connecticut. 
Tremont and Delaware were colonies from Boston and 
Providence. Other places less prominent had a similar 
origin. But the Galesburg colony has always maintained a 
pre-eminence among kindred enterprises, and has achieved 
a success which no other has yet attained. I account for 
this fact mainly on two principles : 1st. The object of this 
colony was prominently and distinctively philanthropic, 
benevolent and Christian. Its founders designed to water 
others, and God has watered them. They aimed to jDlant a 
Christian community, to maintain a high-toned Christian 
morality, and they found that godliness was profitable unto 
.all things having the promise of the life that now is, as well 
as of that which is to come. 2d. The plan of this colony 
was more complete. Its affairs were systematized, with a 
wise adaptation of means to the end in view. 

An enterprise with such an object and such a plan, 
attracted to itself a class of men who could appreciate its 
importance, and were able to carry out its design, w^ithout 
faltering, or turning aside. Such men engaged in such a 
work, are in the way to secure God's blessing, for they are 
laborers together with him. In this view of the case the 
prosperity of Galesburg and of its inhabitants is no marvel. 
Let other communities learn from it the secret of success. 

It is thirty years this month, since the earliest pioneers of 
this colony arrived with their families and commenced those 
labors which in the meantime have changed a desert into a 
populous city^ distinguished for its religious and literary insti- 
tutions, and commercial prosperity. It is a fitting time for 
the surviving founders of such institutions and of such a 
community, to commemorate the laying of their foundations, 
and to set up their monument to the praise of Him who 
hitherto hath helped them. 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



The conception of this enterprise originated, as is well 
known, with the Kev. George W. Gale, then residing in 
Oneida coRnty, New York. Mr. Gale had been connected 
with the Oneida Institute, in which many valuable young 
men had been put forward in a course of study, toward the 
ministry, and he had become deeply interested in providing 
more ample means for the christian education of the youth 
of both sexes, in order to meet the wants of our country 
and the world. He conferred with his brethren, and was 
strengthened by their approval and aided by their sugges- 
tions. As early as 1834 he seems to have matured a well 
developed plan for planting a colony at the West, to be a 
center of intellectual and moral illumination. In speaking 
of the motives by which he and his associates were edu- 
cated, Mr. Gale says : " Their views were not restricted tq 
benefitting their own descendants. The object which gave 
birth to the enterprize was that of diffusing over an impor- 
tant region of country, at an early period of its settlement, 
the combined influence of education and religion." 

The plan of the colony was a remarkable combination 
of philanthropy and sagacity. It was based upon the 
assumption that the religious, educational and social 
advantages which the plan contemplated, would greatly 
enhance the value of the wild lands in the vieinity of 
their town. These lands were to be purchased by the col- 
ony at the^government price, and sold to individual members 
or other purchasers at four times their first cost, and the 
profit thus accruing was to endow their College in its vari- 
ous departments. And the purchaser of every eighty acre 
lot received a scholarship entitling the holder to twenty -five 
years' tuition. 

The original design was to raise by subscription, $40,000, 
and purchase a whole township. If this amount had been 
raised and a whole township purchased at Government 
price, it would have still left more than $11,000 in the 
Treasury for College purposes, and when the subscribers 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



had all received their lands at an average of $5 per acre, it 
would have left 15,000 acres of land as the property of the 
College. The town site was also to be located on College 
land, which would of itself furnish no inconsiderable 
endowment for an infant institution. 

The unquestionable wisdom of the plan is demonstrated 
by the fact, that, although but about one-half of the sum 
originally contemplated was ever received from subscribers, 
and only 10,746 acres of land purchased for the colony, yet 
on this greatly diminished scale of operations, the enterprise 
has proved eminently successful. 

In the summer of 1835, about thirty subscribers to the 
plan of a colony having been obtained, an exploring 
Committee was appointed, consisting of Nehemiah West, 
Thomas Gilbert, and Timothy B. Jervis. They spent some 
months ill traveling through the West, particularly in 
Northern Indiana and Northern Illinois, and returned with- 
out being able to recommend any location as fully meeting 
the wishes and plans of the colony. They were, however, 
favorably impressed with this section of Illinois, and 
believed that in this vicinity a suitable tract of land might 
be found. One of the Committee purchased a farm for 
himself in the vicinity of Knoxville, feeling confident that 
the colony would purchase around him. The Committee 
recommended that a purchasing Committee be immedi- 
ately sent out, prepared to make further explorations and 
secure by actual purchase the most suitable tract ot* land 
they could find in this part of the State. That Committee 
was appointed, consisting of Rev. Mr. Gale, Sylvanus 
Ferris, Nehemiah West, and Thomas Simmons, who soon 
set out on their important mission. At Detroit they were 
obliged to leave Mr. Gale on account of his illness, and Mr. 
Samuel Tompkins, who was in company with one of the 
Committee, was requested to act in Mr. Gale's place. The 
Committee arrived at Knoxville about the middle of Octo- 
ber, 1855, and their attention was soon directed to this tract 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



of prairie, adjacent to the South, side of Henderson Grove 
which the exploring Committee seem not to have visited. 
Thej decided at once to purchase it in connection with 
two improved farms, and a tract of timber in the grove. 
The money invested in the purchase fell a little short of 
$15,000. 

On the 7th of the succeeding January, 1836, the stock- 
holders of the colony met at Whitesboro, heard the report 
of their Committee, and appointed a Board of Trustees of 
their embryo College, consisting of John Waters, Sylvanus 
Ferris, H. H. Kellogg, Thomas Simmons, John C. 
Smith, Walter Webb, G. W. Gale, N. West, Isaac Mills, 
and Samuel Tompkins, 

" Prairie College " was selected as the name of their 
institution, and Galesburg the name of the village. — 
Arrangements were made for appraising the lands, and 
distributing them to the stockholders and selling to new 
purchasers ; for laying out the village, and appraising 
the lots and bringing them into market, reserving Col- 
lege grounds, and lots for a Church, a parsonage and a 
Cemetery. Steps were taken toward procuring at an 
early day, material for a College building, the erection 
of a steam saw-mill and of a public house. 

As early in the Spring of 1836 as arrangements could 
be made, the Pioneers of the Colony began their long 
and weary pilgrimage to the land of promise; a part 
with their own teams, and a part by water, in their own 
canal boat through the I^ew York and Erie canal from 
Utica to Buffalo ; on Lake Erie to Cleveland ; by the 
Ohio canal to Portsmouth ; thence by the Ohio, Missis- 
sippi and Illinois rivers to Copperas Creek, the landing 
nearest to their destination. The voyage was long, their 
progress was slow, the boat was crowded, the weather was 
warm, the alternations of scorching heat by day, and 
chilly dampnes by night, necessarily subjected them to 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



sickness, which very few if any escaped. Three died 
early after their arrival, Smith, Mills, and Lyman, 
strong men, valuable in counsel and efficient in labors. 
Their loss was deeply felt, their survivors were afflicted 
but not discouri^ged, cast down, but not in despair. 
They were well aware that men die, but God lives and his 
cause does not fail. 

In the autnmn of 1836 more than thirty families were 
temporarily located in cabins on the South side of Sender- 
son Grove, where they spent the first winter preparing to 
improve their farms, and to commence the building of their 
village the next season. Then and there was planted the 
germ of this city with its noble institutions, and of the 
thriving community by which the city is surrounded. Had 
a Directory of Log City (as their temporary settlement was 
called) been published that winter, it would have contained 
the following names : Geo. Avery, H. T. Avery, M. Cham- 
bers, L. Chappel, C. S. Colton, H. Conger, L. E. Conger, 
P. Dunn, Geo. Ferris, H. Ferris, C. Finch, Rev. Geo. W. Gale' 
L. Gay, D. Griffith. A. Goodell, Wm. Hamblin, J. Raskins,' 
Mrs. Plitchcock, A. Kendall, J. Kendall, E. U. King, K H. 
Losey, H. Lyman, J. Mills, J. McMullen, R. Payn'e, Mrs. 
Phelps, Philemon Phelps, P. Richardson, E. Eoot, J. 
Simmons, T. Simmons, J. C. Smith, E. Swift, Job. Swift, 
S. Tompkins, A. Tyler, Rev. J. Waters, D. Wheeler, J. G 
West, N. West, H. Wilcox. 

The Spring of 1837 witnessed the arrival of B. Allen, 
D. Allen, K Allen, S. Allen, F. Buckingham, Dr. J. Bunce,' 
L Colton, E. Farnham, S. Ferris, JS". O. Ferris, Wm. Ferris, 
W. Holyoke, A. Martin, H. H. May, J. C. Prentice, L. San' 
derson, R. Skinner. Other families came in the autumn 
of 1837, but the families and individuals named above 
founded the colony. 

And now commenced in earnest the stern, long protracted 
labors and trials, incident to the building up of such a com- 
munity in such circumstances, labors and trials that can 



10 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 

never be appreciated but by actual experience. The major- 
ity of the first settlers had but limited pecuniary resources, 
and these were soon swallowed up in current family 
expenses, in building thgir houses and improving their 
farms. In the meantime, that memorable financial crash 
had occurred, which involved the whole country and espe- 
cially the West in the'greatest embarrassment. Business was 
stagnant; farmers produce was a drug in the market and 
would scarcely pay for transportation. Markets were dis- 
tant, and for a considerable portion of the year quite inac- 
cessable. Privation, in respect to very many of the 
comforts of life, was therefore unavoidable. Money was so 
exceedingly difficult to be obtained for anything the settlers 
had to spare, that they became accustomed to its absence, 
and learned to transact most kinds of business without it. 
They were exceedingly accommodating in their trafiic with 
each other. Great ingenuity was 'developed in the barter of 
their commodities, and where this failed, long credits con- 
tributed to their convenience. But for taxes and postage, 
neither the barter nor credit system would answer, and often 
letters from distant loved ones were suffered to remain a con- 
siderable time in the post-office for the want of twenty-five 
cents, which was then the postage on all our Eastern 
correspondence. 

The first goods were sold in the settlement by Mr. 0. 
S. Colton, who opened at the Grove in 1836, on a scale 
corresponding to the size of the infant community. The 
next year he removed his store to the village, on the West 
side of the Public Square, and on the North of Main street 
he built his store and dwelling under the same roof. In 
that building, for almost a score of years, a growing mercan- 
tile business was conducted ; remunerative to the proprietor 
and at the same time a great convenience to the commmiity. 
But only those of my hearers who remember what it was to 
go a shopping in Galesburg in those early times can realize 



HISTOKICAL DISCOURSE. 



11 



the difference between then and now. The advantage in 
some respects, was certainly on the side of those tinles 
The merchant was better satisfied, for ho had bnt little 
compeution and large profits. And the customer had much 
less diiBcultj m satisfying himself that he had found the 
best article in town. That could speedily be done. He was 
not expected to pay anything down for his purchases No 
matter how low his funds were, he need not go empty away 
Goods were to be had without money, if not without price 
As to pnce, the pioneer merchants of the West sometimes 
claimed that they made but one per cent, profit. What Zy 
bought tor one dollar they sold for two, and that was gain 
ing one dollar on every hundred cents. And what customer 
could grudge them so small a profit, when pay-day was so 
distant? But alas! those pay days, however long delayed, 
would come, and their approach was not among the smalles 
trials of pioneer life. 

In their social feelings and habits, the early settlers of 
Gaesburg were exceedingly free and cordial. Though many 
o* them had been strangers to each other till they were 
brought together here, they were so homogeneous in their 
principles and aims as to inspire mutual confidence and fra- 
ternal attachment fiom their first acquaintance. Then there 
were no classes of society, aad no artificial rules of etiquette 
o restrain the freedom of social intercourse. No particular 
ety e of hvmg was requisite to admission into the best 

g-ests, this was no obstacle to their receiving and entertain- 
ing company. Boxes, trunks and benches made convenient 

was the tashioM in the best of families 

bJ^^!' ''?"":- '" P'""^'^'" '''' ^^^'°^ binds the early 
settle s to each other in very strong attachments. Their 
hard.h and privations teach them to sympathize with 
each other and their mutual dependence trains them to hab- 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



society to be tou,. y ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ 

^"^;rB:trd\e atsoonltW .^t flo. Wd and 
LTt 'thel own raising, they begin to be proud and env. 
TtW quarrel and ha.e lawsuit., and there . no mor 
Tood society Probably his theory of good soc.e y was 
S^twi:; radical and eirerne, but like other radical ideas 

"C:;:r;!^:KC;ie^ and —rs 0. the 
Jj;Z the Jnding of an ^^ ^^^e^ ^^^^ 

cable expense to the pupil T>i f F^^^^^^ J^,.^ ,.,3,,,, 
RiP-ht of for amoment. iheir earnesi t; 

trd the accomplishment of this pait of their pi • ^^T e 
first winter, while yet occupying the rude ^^ ^ I 

Oity," with such accommodations as y^^^'lXZ\^^ 

school was taught by a S-^'-- ^^^J ;,' L institu- 
coinmon and academic branches. A charter tor 

-" -^"te"nr:?" ir r^ar^r c'olfege. 

rmer:s::;:::e^Ln.r-e-.^.^ 

than thirty pupils. In ^^^S Mr.^ professor of Rhet- 

President of the institution, Mr. Gale, 1*^0 esor 

oric and Moral PUiiosophy, and ^-^ ^osey ^ ad l^her^_ 

conducted the Preparatory '^'^P^^^'^.^^Sge was fully 
niatics and Natural sciences. In 1841 the CoUe . 

organized and a promising class^n^red^-^-^^ 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 13 

man year. Mr, Grant, in the meantime having been 
appointed Professor of Languages. In 1843 the institution 
met with a severe loss by fire. Their building which had 
been erected for the special benefit of the Female depart- 
ment, at an expense of more than $5,000, was burned, with, 
out insurance. In 1844 the East College building: was 
erected, and the West College the year following, after the 
same plan. Besides the Lecture and Eecitation rooms, 
Library, etc., these two buildings were designed to accom- 
modate about forty students with rooms for study. In 1850 
both these buildings were enlarged and their accommodations 
greatly improved at a considerable expense. In 1857 the 
Central College building and Female Seminary were built 
at an expense of about $80,000. At that time the whole 
endowment of the institution was estimated at not less 
than $400,000, and all the donations it had received 
from sources outside of the colony had been scarcely $50,- 
000. In 1845 Mr. Kellogg retired from the Presidency and 
Mr. Blanchard succeeded him. Under his administration 
the first class of nine young men was graduated, five of 
whom became ministers, two of these foreign mission- 
aries, two physicians, one Professor in College and one 
farmer. In 1851 the first class of three graduated from the 
Female Collegiate department, a three years' course of 
study having been provided for under the instruction of the 
College Faculty, with Professor Hitchcock and a Female 
Principal devoted wholly to this department. This depart- 
ment has compared favorably with the other in numbers 
and schollarship, and has fully justified the wisdom of the 
founders of the College in providing with like liberality for 
the education of both sexes. 

Previous to the last financial disaster in 1857, the College 
had attained to very great prosperity. The value of its 
endowment far surpassed the most sanguine expectations of 
its founders. The intersection of two important Railroads 



X4 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 

at this point had so stimulated all kinds of business as to 
attract a large population, and transform a small interior 
village into a flourishing city. This brought the College 
lands into requisition and greatly enhanced their value, 
Yaluable lands which were originally appropriated condi- 
tionally to a Theological Seminary, by the failure of that 
condition, reverted to the general funds of the College. In 
the meantime the Railroad Depot having been located upon 
their border, those lands became city lots, and were sold by 
the foot instead of the acre. The reputation which the 
place had acquired by the character of its society, and of 
its Eeligious and Literary institutions attracted a class of 
population which had in themselves the elements of 
thrift and prosperity. And while the College shared 
largely in the general prosperity, it contributed no less 
to promote it. 

The establishment of a Theological Seminary as a part 
of the Educational System of this place, was prevented by 
a plan long since formed ^ and not yet realized by our 
Presbyterian brethren, of building up a Denominational 
Seminary at Galena. Thence the location was changed 
to Chicago or Lake Forest, and finally, I believe, to Car- 
linville, to which place it was invited by the prospect of 
endowment from lands secured at an early day by Dr. 
Blackburn. The Manual Labor feature of the College 
proved to be less valuable than was anticipated. A few 
of the early pupils aided themselves to srome extent by 
Horticultural and Mechanical labors. But experience, 
the surest test of theories, did not justifiy a reliance 
upon the labors of the pupils during term time, as their 
chief resource for defraying their expenses. Manual labor 
therefore gradually fell into neglect, and finally was dropped 
from the name of the institution by an amendment of the 
charter. 

The faith and patience, and self-denial with which the 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



15 



Faculty of the College struggled through the long years of 
poverty and trial, which covered at least one half of its his- 
tory, commend them to the lasting gratitude of all the 
friends of Christian education. Their nominal salaries were 
very inadequate, and these were generally largely in arrears* 
When paid they were sometimes in College Scrip, which was 
current only at a considerable discount. But God gave 
them endurance and brought them through their straits 
into a large place, and rewarded them for all their sacrifices. 
And now their works follow them in the precious fruits 
gathered from the seed they sowed. The able scholars, the 
earnest and efficient men and women whom they instructed, 
are now conferring manifold blessings upon the world by 
their influence. The early classes in the institution, were 
of like spirit with their teachers, and in full sympathy with 
the principles and objects of the colony. Long may this 
spirit and these principles be cherished among the successive 
generations of pupils that shall walk these classic halls ; 
and never may the public sentiment of the*^' College cease 
to be in harmony with the objects and ends for which 
the colony was founded. 

How inadequate the idea entertained by most peo- 
ple of the magnitude of the work of founding a Col- 
lege. In the early settlements of the West almost every 
colony and nearly every ambitious town, aspired to be 
a seat of learning ; and many were the charters obtained 
for Colleges, with the expectation apparently that they would 
grow as spontaneously as a tree, when once planted. Not 
long since, a town not a hundred miles irom here, adver- 
tised itself as a very eligible site for a College. Through its 
local weekly newspaper it informed the world that if any 
person desired to build a College, they would do well to 
examine the advantages of that locality before selecting any 
other site, as if the building up of a College was like establish- 
ing a store, or erecting a manufactory, or starting a newspaper. 



IQ HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 

No one that has not tried it, can conceive of the outlay of 
faith, patience, toil, care, and money demanded in making np 
a well ordered and adequately endowed College. Society lit- 
tle knows how much it is indebted to those who have done 
such a work. There are men now in this community, and 
some have passed away, who have for a long series of years 
borne burdens of care, solicitude and responsibility in look- 
ing after the finances, and other material interests of this 
College, for which money could but poorly compensate them. 
And yet they have done it without fee or commission, and 
ometimes without thanks. May God reward them. 

There have graduated from the male department of Knox 
College, 131. Of these 38 became Ministers, 3 Foreign 
Missionaries, 24 Lawyers, and quite a number Professors 
and Teachers. One hundred and eighteen have graduated 
from the Female Collegiate department, many of whom are 
filling stations of great usefulness in society. The aggregate 
of the names found on the catalogues of the academic depart- 
ment during the period of its existence, is T687. Of whom 
almost one-half have been females. 

But, as many of the pupils continue through several years 
and the same names appear in several successive catalogues, 
it is estimated that but about 5,000 differrerit persons have 
been instructed for a longer or shorter period in some of the 
departments of the institution. The good influences thus 
put forth in operation are widely diffused, and are acting on 
society at points distant from each other and in manifold 
ways. The Infinite mind alone can comprehend the results. 
About one-third of the gentlemen graduates, and not far 
from the same proportion of the young gentlemen connected 
at different times with the Academy, have performed valua- 
ble military service to their country in the late rebellion. 
Not one so far as is known has fought against his country. 

A most unhappy strife in the Board of Trustees for some 
years circumscribed the usefulness of the institution, and 



HISTORICAL DISCOUKSB. 17 

brought all its interests into peril. But the storm has spent 
its fury and the College still lives, we trust to bless the world 
through a long series of unborn generations. Let the friends 
of the institution learn wisdom from their experience, and 
henceforth strive only to secure the great ends of its foun- 
ders ; the promotion of sound learning, scriptural morality, 
and pure religion. 

Time will doubtless convince us all, as it already has some 
of us, that the strife grew not out of wicked designs, so 
much as of human infirmities, that the provocation was not 
all on one side, nor the forbearance and purity of motive 
monopolized by one party. In the meantime, a second insti- 
tution of learning, not on the programme of the colony, has 
sprung into existence, and has attained to a good degree of 
prosperity and an influential position in the State. The 
Universalists in this place and vicinity, encouraged by the 
liberal donations of their friends abroad, and especially of 
B. Lombard, Esq., established Lombard University in 1852. 
They have an able Faculty, and one good building well filled 
with pupils. The institution is for both sexes. 

Galesburg has also introduced the system of Graded 
Public Schools, and by providing able teachers, and erecting 
a noble building, evinces a determination to educate the 
whole population. 

In the infant settlement at " Log City," public worship on 
the Sabbath was established very soon after the arrival of 
the first families, with preaching when practicable. Mr. 
Gale was their first stated supply, xissisted by Kev. John 
T. Avery, he held a series of meetings during the first winter, 
and the spirit of God owned and blessed the effort in the 
conversion of several of the youth in the congregation. 
They organized their Church on the 25th of February, 1836, 
consisting of eighty-two members. Mr. Waters and Mr. 
Gale officiated on the occasion, assisted by Mr. Noel, of 
Knoxville, who represented Schuyler Presbytery. The 



18 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 



Church was Presbyterian in its name and ecclesiastical rela- 
tions, but contained a strong Congregational element, out of 
deference to which, the modes of administering its affairs, 
were somewhat modified, from the beginning. 

During the summer of 1837, some families having pre. 
pared residences in the village removed hither, and then 
public worship was held alternately, here and at the grove. 
The first room used for Sabbath worship in Galesburg, was 
a store-room built by Deacon Chambers, on Main street 
and afterward used for mercantile purposes. In the winter of 
1839 the first Academy building was used for religious meet, 
ings, which were thenceforward constantly held there until 
this house was opened for worship in 1846. The seven years 
in which the Church worshiped in the old Academy were 
memorable as a period of spiritual prosperity and almost 
constant progress. Many were the seasons of refreshing 
from the presence of the Lord there enjoyed, and of not a 
few now in Heaven, and of many on their way thither, it 
may be said, *^ihis and that man was born there." Although 
worship was commenced in this house in the summer of 
1846, it was not finished and dedicated till the beginning of 
1848. For some three years after this it was the only house 
for public worship in the village, and Christians of every 
denomination were accustomed to worship together here- 
in 1851 the adjoining Lecture room was built, which has 
been a great convenience for social worship, for a session 
room and for meetings of general interest, but miscellaneous 
Id character. 

Professor Gale, with the aid of Rev. Mr. Waters, was 
acting pastor of the Church the first three years. Mr. 
Foote supplied the pulpit for one year. Mr. Gale then 
resumed his pastoral labors for a year, and was succeeded by 
President Kellogg, who was stated supply for two years. 
For the next year the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Messrs. 
Marsh, Waters, and Hollister. From May 1844 till the end 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. ^9 



of 1845, Eev. Mr. Parker was acting pastor. Mr. Kellogg 
then was installed as pastor, and officiated till the failure of 
his health in the spring of 1847. President Blanchard suc- 
ceeded him in his ministerial and pastoral labors, and gave 
place to Mr. Bascom in December, 1849, whose pastorate 
closed in May, 1856. His successor was Eev. Charles M. 
Tyler, whose pastoral relation to the Church continued 
about three years. Mr. Barnard was then stated supply 
for six months, and was succeeded by the jDresent pastor, 
Eev. F. T. Perkins, who already lacks but little of hav- 
ing reached the length of the longest pastorate which 
had preceded his. Long may it be before history shall give 
us the name of his successor. If the Church has not been 
edified by the ministry of these thirty years, surely it has 
not been for the lack of variety. 

In 1845 the government of the Church was modified and 
an accommodation plan adopted, which secured to both 
Congregationalists and Presbyterians their preferences, and 
gave the Church a double ecclesiastical connection.' In 
1856 the term Presbyterian was dropped from her name, and 
she has since been known as the first Church of Christ, 
having withdrawn from Presbytery a year or two before! 
In May, 1854, the second Presbyterian Church was organ- 
ized with thirty members, dismissed from this Church for 
this purpose ; and in December of the same year the Old 
School Presbyterian Church was organized with eighteen 
members. In November, 1855, the first Congregational 
Church was organized with fifty members, most of whom 
were dismissed from this Church to join the new organization 
The Methodist Episcopal Church, the Baptist and the 
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran were organized in the order 
now named, in 1847, 1848 and 1852. In October, 1856, a 
Swedish Methodist and also a Colored Methodist Church 
were organized and subsequently an Episcopal Church, a 
German Lutheran, a Colored Baptist, and a Eoman Catho- 



20 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 

lie. A Universalist Church has also held a somewhat 
prominent position in the place for about twelve or Hf- 
teen years. Thus we see, while this spacious house of 
worship met the wants of all Galesburg fifteen years ago, 
fourteen houses, several of which are spacious and handsome 
edificeS; are now demanded. If such increased church 
accommodations are really needed and filled, it indicates a 
degree of , growth and prosperity, both temporal and 
spiritual, which is rarely witnessed. 

This Church truly deserves to be called the Mother of 
Churches, and of some of her ofi'spring she may well be 
proud, while some of the younger generation around her, 
would probably prefer to trace their lineage to a source more 
remote, if not more illustrious. The present membership 
of the Church is 362, still making her a little larger, as 
she always ought to be, than any of her descendants. 

This Church has always been self-sustaining. Though 
planted in a new and uncultivated missionary field, her rela- 
tion has always been that of a nursing mother to the feebler 
and more destitute, rather than a recipient of other's bounty. 

This Church and colony have from the beginning taken 
high and unequivocal ground on the questions of Reform 
which have agitated the nation. The original colony and 
the early settlers were of one heart and one mind, in 
this respect. At their meeting in Whitesboro, the winter 
before the settlement was begun, a committee, consisting of 
Smith, West, and Tompkins, was appointed to report what 
measures should be taken to guard the morals of the colony. 
I do not find a formal report of this committee, but I do find 
that a prohibition of the manufacture and sale of intoxicat- 
ing drinks on the premises, is inserted in every title deed of 
real estate, sold by the colony, and forfeiture to the College 
is the penalty of violating that condition. I infer that this 
very important safe-guard to the morals of Galesburg was 
thus early recommended by that committee. Wise fore- 
thought! Precious legacy to those that shall come after 



them ! Let Galesburg prize the precious inheritance received 
irom the founders of the place, of exemption from the curse 
of the Liquor traffic ; and let her hand down to cominc gen- 
erations, that inheritance unsullied. Shame on the descend- 
ants or successors of such men as founded this colony that 
shall ever consent to sell their birth-right of Temperance 
and of uncompromising hostility to the Liquor traffic. Total 
abstmence from intoxicating drinks and opposition to slavery 
have been a condition of membership in this Chnrch from 
the beginniDg. 

The members and the ministry of this Church have 
a ways been in favor of carrying radical anti-slavery princi- 
ples mto politics as well as into religion. They have 
insisted on voting as well as praying for liberty. And 
she has done what she could to save the country, and give 
liberty to her oppressed millions, not only by her prayers 
and votes but by sending into the army her full quota of 
brave soldiers who knew how to fight the battles of freedom. 
It only remains now to address a few words of conc^rat- 
ulation to the surviving founders of Gaiesburg and o'f its 
noble institutions. My friends, yours has been a favored lot 
It was a kind Providence that chose you for such a work as 
God has permitted you here to accomplish. You have been 
benefactors of your country and of mankind. Not only 
this community, but the world owes you a debt of gratitude 
or the m^ral heroism with which you gave yourselves to 
this work ; for the faith and patience with which you prose- 
cuted It; for the self denial and fortitude with which you 
enoured hardness, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. 

You have not forgotten, and we will not forget, the long 
years in which you had to labor and wait for the realization 
ot your hopes. The early history of your enterprise seemed 
a day of small things ; hope was often deferred ; embarrass, 
ments trials and discouragements were multiplied and pro- 
longed But the bow of promise always spanned your 
si^y, and hope was an anchor to your souls. The leaders and 



22 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 

prominent actors in your enterprize are worthy of great 
praise ; but they deserve not all the honor ; it is the rank 
and file in the army which receive and give the hard blows 
that bring the victory. And so it has been with the toiling 
farmers, the industrious mechanics, and the patient and work- 
ing housewives, that have fought the battles of this thirty 
years' struggle, and achieved the victory which we celebrate 
to-day. I congratulate you on your success ; and in the name 
of the community, and of the thousands who have shared 
the advantages of your institutions, I thank you for all you 
have done and suflered for their benefit. And in your 
behalf, I thank God that he has spared you to this day to wit- 
ness the results of your enterprise. Did I say results ? Ah ! 
these are not yet developed. What we see and rejoice in 
to-day are only some of the first fruits ; the full harvest will 
be reaped by successive generations, long after you have 
gone. And the full value of the results can be known only 
in eternity. But beware my friends, that you cherish not 
the spirit that says : " This is great Babylon that I have 
built." Eemember always, that he that planteth is nothing, 
and he that vvatereth is nothing, but God that giveth the 
increase. To God belongs all the glory of your achievements, 
Many with whom you started this enterprise, are not 
here to-day. You cherish their memory with unusual ten- 
derness and affection ; you went with them to the house of 
God, and took sweet counsel with them in the days of dark- 
ness and trial ; and you rejoiced with them inseasons of pros- 
perity and of spiritual refreshing. Would that time would 
permit me to speak fitting words of eulogy for each. But it 
is not needful ; their very names recall the history of their 
lives, and their best eulogies are your memories of what 
they were. Smith, Mills, and Lyman, fell on the threshold 
of your enterprise. Swift, West, and Conger, bore with you 
the heat and burden of the day for a few years and then 
went early to their reward. Bergen, Prentice, McMullen, 
Goodell, Holyoke, Williams, Dunn, Weeks, Willard, 



HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 23 

Leonard, and Gary, are cherished in your memories as 
brothers beloved. Ferris, Bunce, Waters, and Gale, were 
strong pillars in the edifice you were rearing. But they, 
too, having finished their work, have gone to their rest. 
Nor will you forget Spencer, whom you first learned to love 
as a pious, active Christian pupil in your Academy, and 
afterward as a minister, honored of God, in leading many souls 
among you to the Saviour. 

Others, who were for a time identified with you, have been 
called to other fields, and still five to labor elsewhere for the 
same cause. Among this class the names of Kellogg, Foote, 
Parker, and Blanchard, will always be prominent in your grate- 
ful recollections. May they long live to serve God and their gen- 
eration as faithfully and successfully as they did with you. Mr. 
Kellogg had, from the beginning, aided the interests of the 
colony by his judicious counsels and bis liberal pecuniary assis- 
tance. While he was President of the College, and while 
pastor of the Church, his whole heart, influence, and resources 
were enlisted in putting forward the interests of the colony, and 
in accomplishing its grand designs. His unselfish and magnani- 
mous services deserve a lasting remembrance. 

How wonderful has been the period of time, covered by your 
enterprise ! Wbat changes have transpired; what progress has 
been made in the useful arts, in the facilities of travel, and of 
transmitting intelligence ! Wbat growth of our country has 
been witnessed ; what progress in our State within these thirty 
years. Well do you remember the political parties, and the 
political questions of thirty yeap ago. Where are they now ? 
You remember the first votes you gave for an anti-slavery 
ticket. It seemed a day of small things on your side, but now 
your principles govern Congress, and rule tLe Nation. You 
remember those anti-slavery prayer meetings in the old Acad- 
emy. Look which way you would for help to the slave, 
you could see only a dead wall high as Heaven. No door 
of hope was opened, but you believed that he who opened 
the Red Sea for the deliverance of his ancient people from 
oppression, could bring Liberty to our oppressed millions, with 
a migbty hand and an outstretched arm. You there prayed 



24 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 

in foitli, and by terrible things in righteousness God has 
answered you. " Jehovah has triumphed, his people are free." 
In view of what you have been permitted to witness in 
your day and generation, what may you not hope for 
in the future 1 This world is to be disenthralled, reclaimed, 
and regenerated. The bright visions of prophecy are to be 
realized. All shall know the Lord, and the earth shall be 
filled with His glory. As you close up your earthly labors, 
let it be in the full confidence that tlie Kingdom of God shall 
universally prevail ; and in thankfuhiess that you have been per- 
mitted to do something to prepare the way for its coming and 
triumpli. 



STATISTICAL PAPER 



Business here began in 1836, with tls-e purchase of 10,746,81-100 acres of 
land for $14,821,10-100; which, with the expenses of exploration, amounted 
to $16,559,7-100. In 1836 colonists began to take possession, and to build 
log cabins at Henderson Grove. 

During that season building was the principal business of our Pioneer Fath- 
ers. Within a year "Log City" was of some renown. Like other cities 
"with room enough in the great world outside — "Log City" bad too great a 
population for its accommodations. Hence three or four families were crowded 
into a single cabin. One Philemon Phelps, not following the fashions of the 
*'city," went out in the country in the autumn of '36, and on the open prairie 
built the first frame house; a house known in "modern times" as the old 
'* Holyoke house." It stood on the lot now covered by Mr. Mathews' new 
brick store, occupied by Mr. Hawkinson, on Main street, east of Prairie. 
Besides building cabins the colonists, during that summer, raised a little corn, 
a few potatoes and garden vegetables on tlje "colony farm," purchased a few 
cows, and went seventy miles to mill. During the cold winter of 1836-Y those 
men and women had a good time amid their many privations, to meditate on 
something good for this portion of Illinois. 

"With the spring of '3Y came new families and an increase of business. Geo. 
Avery built the second frame house, which was afterwards moved out into the 
world to the lot now occupied by his present residence of brick. The 
old house, still stands across the way a little east of its former position, a 
relic of olden times, covered now as then with " Hoosier boards" — boards 
rived and shaved about a yard in length. During the summer, "The Prairie" 
says Mr. Gale " was the theater of a busy activity in the erection of build- 
ings and opening of farms." Mr. Gale's statement that the Academy building 
was erected during this year (1837) must be a mistake ; for the account books 
of the College show that it could not have been commenced till about June, nor 
completed before December of 1888. 

A settlement had been fairly made ; it consisted of those who came in 1836 
— 173 individuals, and those who came in the spring of 1837 — 59 individuals — 
total 232. Of these 165 or 71 per cent, are still living ; of those then married 



26 STATISTICAL PAPER. 

nearly 60 per cent, are still living ; of those then unmarried over 80 per cent. 

These are remarkable facts ; those families had been accustomed to the 
comforts of good Eastern homes. Here they lived in log cabins made of green 
timber, in one case without a floor, and with several families in a cabin, experi- 
encing a winter so unusually cold that old "Hoosiers" and " Suckers" insis- 
ted that the Yankees brought it along with them. 

Then, too, some of these men had passed the middle of life. One, Mr. 
Chambers, was fifty years old, and yet, after thirty years, 70 per cent, are still 
living. Of men then regarded as within the shadows of age, we have now 
with us, Deacons Simmons, Tompkins, and Chambers. Long — long — may the 
good men remain — bright lights in the Church of God. A few years after the 
settlement of this colony, agentleman, in a stage coach pronounced all Illinois 
so unhealthy that there was not a place in it where a family of children could 
be raised. Mr. W. Selden^Gale replied to liim: " In the place where I live, 
fifty-three children were born in the first two years of the settlement, of whom 
fifty-two are living." 

It is not easy to realize that we have among us so large a number of men 
and women who remember when between the high ground known as the "Knox 
place," two and a half-miles south-east of us, and Henderson Grove, three and 
a half-miles north-west; there was nothing but wild prairie grass and rosin 
weed, not a tree or shrub, nothing to obstruct the vision, excepting the cabin 
of Mr. Luther Gay, a little this side of the grove, a low cabin, yet, as standing 
out on a naked prairie, it so loomed up that for years it was called the *' Light- 
house.^^ 

Those Pioneers were mostly Christians, and strictly temperate in all their 
habits. Their remarkable longevity asserts that temperance and godliness 
are profitable unto all things. Besides, these Pioneers had a great idea ; they 
came for a good work, and were cheerful and happy amid their trials — never 
happier — so they say ; and hence, like the older Pilgrims, they were of such 
stuff as not, because of trials, to wish themselves back again. Such men had 
a right to live ; a right resting on a Divine promise. 

The population of Galesburg in 1846 was about 800; in 1856 — 4000; and in 
1866—8000, or, including the township, 9000. 

Galesburg has had a healthy growth, 

Half a township in 1835 cost $16,559 1 On the same basis assessments in 

Total assessments in 1849 64,945 1866 would bo $1,600,00 

" 1855 399,700 | 

This property es-timated at its full value, would amount to at least $3,000,000. 

The lot on which stands tlie store of Innes, Murdoch & Co., 66x112 feet, cost 
them $7000. 

The mercantile business of Galesburg was commenced in the spring of 1837 
by C. S. Colton, in a log cabin at the Grove. After a few months he removed 
to the building which he had erected for his dwelling and store on the corner of 
the public square, now occupied by his large brick block. 



STATISTICAL PAPER. 



27 



In that store he did most of the business of the town for ten years. A por- 
tion of that old store now stands on Chambers street between Main and Xorth, 
revealing through the paint the name, "C. S. Colton" on one end, and on the 
street side, "Books, Stationery, Paints, etc., etc." In its chimney are some of 
the first brick made in Galesburg. Knoxville and Henderson were the places 
for trade during those years. For a long time if one wanted apiece of stove 
pipe he was obliged to go to Knoxville, perhaps to Farmington, and sometimes 
even for thread and needles. 

In 1840 Mr. Colton went into the pork trade ; and collected from the two 
counties of Knox and Warren, 192 hogs — all he could buy. These were driven 
to Warsaw, slaughtered and shipped to New Orleans, at a loss of ten per cent. 
In 1841 he purchased 1250, and made nothing. In 1842 the standard price of 
hogs was one dollar and fifty cents a hundred. There were no beef cattle to be 
had. Dealers fi'om Ohio bought and drove off the steers, as dealers from this 
State have gone to Arkansas and Texas for young stock to be driven home and 
fatted for market. Wheat was carted to Chicago. and sold at 45 to 50cts per 
bushel. 

In the meantime Mr. Chambers opened a store on the corner of the Square, 
now occupied by Olmsted & Downs. Then followed several unsuccessful 
attempts at the mercantile business ; till Mr. Johnson, of Knoxville, established 
a branch store here. Then came the Willards who built up a good business. 

During the second decade the business of the place was constantly increasing 
with the tide of population, and growing prosperity of the College. At the 
end of this perfbd all were alive, many were building air castles, some 
were running wild with speculation. A brilliant bubble had been blown all 
over this Western country. Groat cities were about to spring out of the 
ground; everybody was soon to become rich. Railroads were to run in every 
direction ; and Galesburg become a great city. How that great bubble burst 
in 1857 is well remembered, and the depression that followed ; with the embar- 
rassments and losses growing out of the miserable " wild cat" banks and 
" stump tail" currency which so cursed this State. 

During the last decade the business of our city has had a marked growth. 
The following figures, obtained from the U. S. Assessor, or directly from busi- 
ness parties, though given in round numbers, closely approximate to the actual 
amount of business done here in twelve months : 



Stock and Produce trade $1,000,000 

Dry Goods 545,000 

Cloths and Clothing 2^0,000 

Boots and Shoes (outside of Dry 

Good stores) ;5.'),000' 

Fancy Goods andToys 47,000 

Groceries ^ 460,000 

Hardware 154,000 



Agricultural articles $125,000 

Drugs, etc 60,000 

Crockery (outride Grocery stores) 12,000 

Musical lustruments 40,000 

Sewing Machines 5,000 

Books and Stationery 30,000 

Lumber, 5,000,000 feet 185,000 

Leather 18,000 



Amount, exclusive ef many smaller intorosts $3,606,000 



28 STATISTICAL TAPER. 



MANUFACTURES : 

NO. OF ME\ EMPLOYED. WAGES. PBODUCTS. ' 

Wagpus and Plows 50 $35,000 $53,000 

Corn Planters 150 * 96,000 $200,000 

Sugar Mill, Hay Press, Valve ) ^^^ .^ „„„ Ain nnn 

and Foundry Establishments/ -^^^ '^'^^^ ^^'^^^ 

Furniture 22 12,000 45,000 

(Including both manufactured ) , 
and sold) j ' 

Harness, Shoes, Household Goods.. 41 26,000 80,93T 

Brick (part of a year) 40 8,500 20,000 

Preparing Hemp for Market 25 10,000 25,000 

Marble Head Stones 11,000 

Pumps 6,787 

Candy 1,668 

Sorghum, 14 000 gallons 14,000 

Soap 25,000 

Gents' Clothing 60,000 

Millinery 40,000 

Photographs $12 000 Picture Frames $4000 16,000 



Total $1,038,-392 

As the party of Hugh Conger and Nehemiah West were approaching the 
chosen site for their colony, on the first of June, 1836, they stopped for the 
night near what is now called Victoria. They were short of provisions. The 
family where they called had no meal. Corn was ground in a hand mill, and 
"corn dodgers" made for supper. The next day dealing out their scanty supplies 
to the younger members of the party, they made their way, weary and hungry, 
to Henderson Grove, gathered up what they could for supper from the Hoosier 
families scattered through the " timber ;" and took their first meal from a 
table, consisting of a door from an old Hoosier cabin, resting on boxes. There 
was so little wheat in this region then that a colonist in some instances spent 
a week ingathering up half a dozen bushels of it; and then spent another 
week in carrying it to Andover, (thirty miles) or further to Oquaka and waiting 
his turn for his "grist," orev^en seventy miles to a steam mill at Pekin. There 
was indeed a mill nearer, "Roger's mill," more recently known as "Olmsted's." 
But in diy times it could not grind. Now, if you wish it, mills right at your 
door can grind for you 1,000 bushels in twenty-four hours. When all running, 
our mills grind daily 400 bushels of wheat, and 100 bushels of corn; proceeds 
for a year about $250,000. There were slaughtered for our consumption last 
year lY60beef cattle ; 859 sheep ; 443 hogs ; making the business of our meat 
markets amount to $100,000. 

The growth of our city is shown by the increase of its Post Office business. 
A newspaper paragraph recently stated that among the worthy deeds which an 
aged couple had never done was the mailing of a letter. 



* For eight months. During the summer months many of these men work as carpenters. 

t Some of the furniture of the Pioneers was easily made, as a "spring bedstead" with but 
one post. Taking the corner of a log cabin, bore holes in the logs for three corners, set up a 
pust for the fourth, then with the sides and ends set in and fastened, lay across "Hoosier 
boards," with a good spring to them and you have a luxury as compared with a "pwttc7je»» 
bed." The rule for travellers in the early days was one puncheon to a man. The story is that 
a company was so crowded one night, that they could lie only on one side; and as one rose in 
the night, the rest improving the chance for relief, turned back, so that on seeking his pun- 
cheon again, the man up could get in only as he waked the whole row and set them up 
edgewise. 



STATISTICAL PAPER. 29 

They had existed. So have Egyptian mummies. A friend of mine was asked 
not long ago, in North Carolina, if he thought the United States Government 
would ever catch Jefferson Davis. Semi-civilized communities have little use 
for mails. As communities rise in civilization they read and write, and still rise 
as they increase their correspondence. 

The business of this office has always been large for the population. The 
colonists for a year went to Knoxville for their mails; and brought them thence 
once a week on horseback. During the winter of 1837--8, the people of "Log 
City " took their letters from the window-sill of Kev. Mr. Gale ; and paid 
twenty-five cents for a letter from the East, and this for each separate piece of 
paper, however light or small. It was not long before the colonists rejoiced 
in a semi-weekly and then a tri- weekly mail. When Mr. Wm. H. Holcomb, of 
Knoxvile, advertised his stage to run from Peoria to Oquawka, and touch at 
certain flourishing villages, Galesburgwas not named. 

After much difficulty the colonists obtained an office, and a mail direct. The 
mails were not heavy in those days, consisting only of a few letters, a few cop- 
ies of the New York Observer, Evangelist, and New York Express, bringing 
the news two or three Aveeks old. Mr. W. Selden Gale, who was postmaster in 
1850-3, remembers when on a Monday morning, an unusually larj^e mail of 
one hundred letters was sent off. The income of the office did not probably 
exceed $1500 during either of these years. 

The returns from this office for the quarter ending March 31st, 1866, as fur. 

uihsed by the postmaster, C. E. Carr, Esq., through his chief clerk, Mr. George 

Colville, present the following facts : 

"Quarterly sales of stamps and stamped envelopes $2,455,07 

" amount of unpaid postage collected 230,60 

" " " postage upon regular newspapers and magazines 95,94 

Upwards of 2,000 regular newspapers are received weekly, from all parts of 

the country, for delivery to subscribers. Among religious papers the Inde. 

pendent stands first, with 110 subscribers. Number of boxes rented nearly 

1,000. 

Gross receipts of PostoflBce quarterly (average) $3,021,05 

Net " to U. S. after defraying expenses of oflBce 1,925,30 

Number of letters received per week for delivery 5,083 

'« " " " " quarter for delivery 66,079 

And for a year considerably over a quarter of a million. 

Of this number are delivered 981 out of every thousand ; the remainder, less 
than two per cent, of the whole, being advertised as "unclaimed," and eventu- 
ally finding their way back to the writers through the Dead Letter office. 

The number of letters sent from the Galesburg postoffice, will average, all 
the year 'round, the same as that of those received — from five to six thousand 
weekly. About the same number as in the case of letters received, fail from 
various causes to reach the parties addressed, and are returned to the writers 
through the Dead Letter office. 

The money order system is of recent date ; but the business is steadily on 
the increase. For the quarter ending March 31st, 1866, the aggregate amount 



30 STATISTICAL PAPER. 

of the orders issued (all in small sums) footed up $1,974,49-100 — of orders 
paid, $1,110,26. 

The office ranks as the third or fourth in the State, and the literary charac- 
ter of our people — as shown in the items of letters received and sent — will 
challenge any town of like size to produce its equal. Many letters also go 
directly through the mail car. 

Besides what comes through the postoffice, news agents distribute 

Daily Papers 270 

Weekly Political Papers 200 

Illlustrated Papers 300 



Weekly Miscellaneous Pamphlets 60 

Monthly Magazines 250 



Total of different publications regularly taken outside of the PostoflBce 1,070 

During the late war the citizens of Galesburg expended from $4,000 to 
$5,000 a year for daily news. 

OUR RAIL ROADS. 

Not till long after the settlement of this place was there any railroad west 
of the Alleghanies. Our Pioneer Fathers were about eight weeks coming 
hither from Vermont ; six weeks from Central New York. For several years 
a merchant's trip to New York took eighteen or twenty days ; four to six days 
to Chicago. A trip to Chicago and back, with a loaded wagon, required two 
weeks. When the Michigan canal was opened you seemed quite near to Chi- 
cago ; you could reach that village — as it then was — by stage to Peoria ; steam- 
boat to La Salle ; then by canal boat ; in forty-eight hours — about the time 
now required to reach New York. 

From the slow and hard wagon, to the stage and steamer, was a great change. 
But what a change from the coach to one of Pullman's magnificent $20,000 
sleeping cars — splendid as a palace — easy as a cradle — gently rocking one to 
sleep at ten o'clock in the evening — giving him pure air to breathe all night — 
enabling him to rise in Chicago with the sun — wash and prepare for business 
as if at a first-class hotel. 

The first railroad idea here was for a track to Peoria. Fifteen years ago a 
charter was obtained for a road from Peoria to Oquawka, to run two and a half 
miles south of Galesburg ; with a station at Knoxville and another eight miles 
distant, on the county line, leaving this place — nowhere, but five miles from 
Knoxville. Our citizens plead for a station at this point, and offered to take 
stock to the amount of $20,000. They thought only of reaching Peoria, and 
market by rail and Illinois river. There was also a charter for a road from 
Quincy to La Salle — in words not to run JEast of Knoxville, and in thought not 
to run West of that place. Again Galesburg was left out in the cold. 

Despairing of accommodation from either road, if ever built, the people here 
determined to reach the Rock Island road at Sheffield. A correspondence 
was opened; meetings were held ; an organization formed ; a charter secured, 
small subscriptions obtained ; the route surveyed, and Mr. C. M. Carr put into 
the field as agent to wake up the people. Still the enterprise dragged. Many 
stood looking towards Peoria. The Rock Island company failed to " know 
their day." 



STATISTICAL PAPER. 



31 



But earnest men and stern difficulties were educating the public mind and 
stretching it on beyond Sheffield to Aurora — the terminus of the Chicago 
and Aurora road — and preparing for a strike direct to Chicago. Fortune 
turned on a single incident, a casual meeting in Boston, of Mr. C. S. Colton 
with Mr, Grimes, of Iowa — now U. S. Senator — and Mr. Wadsworth, President 
of the Chicago and Aurora road. Thus was secured important aid at each end 
of the proposed road. Soon after this, Mr. Brooks, President of the Michigan 
Central, and Mr. Joy, the first and present President of our road, were 
enlisted. Eastern capital was now obtained, and the road made certain. The 
first charter was enlarged; the road was built and, in 1854, opened. Finally, 
in order that the Peoria and Oquawka road might be finished, the ** Military 
Tract " road, as our road was first called, had to buy it. The C. B. & Q., now 
has 400 miles of road. 

This passage of history is given to show what Galesburg enterprise had to do 
to secure this great road. 

The railroad business at this point is important. Taking the month of May 
as an average month, the amount of Merchandise shipped from this point dur- 
ing the last year was 40,831,1*76 lbs., on whica was charged a freight of 
$104,554,64. 

Our stock and grain dealers ship largely from other points. At this station 

the shipments for the year ending June 1st, 1866, have been 

Grain 400 000 bushels I Sheep 200 head 

Cattle 2 600 head Horses 50 " 

Hogs 9 000 " I Broom Corn 685 000 lbs. 

Cash collected on freight received, for the year $136,882,67. 

This department has employed seventeen hands, and paid for their labor 
$10,200 for the year. 

It would be a fact of interest, if known, how many, during the first ten years 
after the settlement of the place, started on a journey. 

The number of passengers by rail from Galesburg in the year ending April 
30th, 1862, was 28,651 ; in the year ending April 30th, 1866, was 82,555. 
Increase of travel in four years, 53,904. 

The following statement from Superintendent Hitchcock shows the increase 
of business in the train department : 



TRAIN MEN EMPLOYED AT GALESBURG, MAT, 1856. 

NO. 

Conductors 7 

Baggage Man 1 ......1. ........."!....! 

Brakemen 7 



AMOUNT. 

...354 50 
... 35 00 
...182 49 



Total amount.. 



15. 



.$571 



TRAIN MEN EMPLOYED AT GALESBURG, MAT, 1866. 
KO. 

Passeuger Conductors 11 ^ „_ 

Freight " 37 .......!..I 

Baggage Men 9 „ _ „, 

Passenger Brakemen 9 ." !.'.".*.. ..!!ir."7_""'.." 

Freight " 75 .' ....!."-......."."......"."..... 



Total amount - „. 141. 



AMOUNT. 

.. 712 36 
..2 652 19 
.. 430 62 
„. 338 06 
..3 119 39 

.$7 252 61 



Amount of wages for twelve months ^87 031 32 



32 STATISTICAL PAPER. 

The carpenter's department has done a large amount of work. The present 
extensive Freight House, and Carpenter's Shop, were built in 1855; the large 
Passenger House in 1856 ; the Locomotive Repair Shop, 50x150, in 1861-2. 
Th'fe Car Shop was burned and rebuilt, 50x180, in 1863. 

At different times other buildings have been erected, as the present oflfice 
building, storage buildings, and an engine house with stalls for thirty-five 
engines. This department employed during the fall of 1863 and the year '64, an 
average of 180 men. It now has an average of seventy-five men, on a yearly 
pay of $32,200. 

Arrangements are being made to dig a large well, sufficient to supply all the 
water that may be needed for many years, at a cost of from |8, 000 to $10,000. 
Other improvements are contemplated, to meet the demands of the increasing 
business of the road. 

LOCOMOTITE DEPARTMENT. 

The Locomotive department of the C. B. & Q. R. R., at Galesburg, employs 

from 230 to 240 men of all classes ; whose pay ranges from $1 30 to $3 40 

per day. 

Average monthly expenditure for labor „....ll 311 00 

'• " " " material 4 720 00 

" " " " oil, &c 2 580 00 



$18 561 00 

THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE TEAK ENDING APRIL 30, 1866. 

Labor on engines 48 927 81 I Oil and waste on engines 11 107 80 

Material on " 34 319 13 | — 

Making a total expense on engines of. $94 354 74 

Labor on track, buildings, cars, etc..40 135 63 I Oil & waste used on build'gs, cars.-. 19 251 23 

Material used on •' " 22 160 63 | 

$81 547 49 

For Engineers, Firemen, and Wipers, etc., one year $46 670 00, 

Making a total of Labor 135 733 44 I Mak'g a total of oil, tallow, rags 30 359 03 

" " Material 56 479 76 | 

Total ., - $222 572 23 

TRACK DEPARTMENT. 

The number of men employed in the Track Department at Galesburg is 60- 
These are regular men and work steadily the whole year round. Most of these 
are men with families, and hence probably spend or leave all their earnings in 
Galesburg, thus materially contributing to the wealth of the place. 

The aggregate pay of these men was $30,475,00. In addition to these regu- 
lar men, there were employed in Galesburg, in the construction and extension 
of side-tracks, etc., etc., twenty men for about seven months, at an expense for 
labor, teams, in grading, etc., etc., of about $Y,500,00; a good share of which 
was paid to men who are permanent residents here. 

There were about one and one-half miles of new side-track and extensions 
to side-tracks laid in Galesburg during the past year. The cost of material for 
these constructions was $18,000. 

THE CAR DEPARTMENT. 

This department has employed during the year, on an average, 81 1-6 men ; 
average pay per month, $47,09 ; amounting in the year to $45,863,53. Value 
of material used in repairs, $79,107,65 ; total, $124,971,18. 



STATISTICAL PAPER. 



33 



I 



TELEGRAPH. 

"When this prairie was purchased for a town, Prof. Morse had not asked Con- 
gress for aid to enable him to test his great discovery. Not till 1844 was the 
telegraph put into successful operation between Washington and Baltimore. 
Mr. Tubbs furnishes the following statement: 

"In May, 1856, the Illinois and Mississippi Telegraph Company owned one 
wire from Chicago to Burlington — 201 miles — with ten offices. Receipts of 
Galesburg office about one-fifth their present amount. In May, 1866, the 
Illinois and Mississippi Telegraph Company owned one wire from Chicago to 
Keokuk — 250 miles ; another from Chicago to Mendota — 85 miles — thence over 
the Illinois Central Railroad to Dunleith, 

" The Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad (the ooly road in the West 
owning their own telegraph) have one wire over the entire length of their 
road and its branches ; a second wire from Chicago to Mendota, which will be 
extended to Galesburg this fall, (1866); a third wire for the accommodation of 
the general offices in Chicago from their passenger depot, foot of Lake street, 
via South Branch Freight Depot to their extensive docks. 

"Total number of miles of wire owned by the road, 513 ; total number miles 
on line of road, 805 ; number of offices, 59. 

" We claim as complete a system of Train Dispatching as any road in the 
country. The present business of the road could not be done over a single 
track without it. Since its adoption — two years ago — not a wheel has been off 
the track, chargeable either directly or indirectly to it. 

" The number of messages received and sent at the Galesburg office in May^ 
1856, was 176; in May, 1866, 11,780. Office employees, June, 1856, operators 
one, messengers one ; June, 1866, operators and train dispatchers, six ; battery 
and delivery clerks, two. Office salaries June, 1856, $30,00 ; June, 1866, 
$721,00." 

These figures are full of meaning. Many a dispatch contained a great his- 
tory— onof single telegraih fortunes turn. In no other so brief a form is there, 
or can there be, condensed so much of thought, emotion, and business, as in 
the telegrams of the day. 

EXPRESS. 

Another marked fact of a kindred character is found in the Express Busi- 
ness at this point. The business done at this office for the month of 
January, 1855, amounted to $78,00. This was the first year of the Express 
Business at this point. The amount in the month of January, 1866, or eleven 
years later, is $3,477, an increase of $2,399. 

Taking January as a fair average, the business for the year amounts to $29,724. 

Business now, could not dispense with the Telegraph or Express. 

Thanks to the gentlemeuly officials of the road for aid, cheerfully rendered, 
in obtaining these facts. 

Mr. Sellon, in a brief history of Galesburg published in 1857, states that the 



34 STATISTICAL PAPER. 

whole number of men employed in the several departments of the road, at 
Galesburg, was 145. The number now employed, including Express men, is 
634. Their annual wages amounting to $364,694,12. This Railroad business 
itself reveals much in regard to the business of the city. It is not strange 
that the stock of the C. B. & Q. E. R., which in 18fiO was only 38 cents, is now 
in 1866, 115 cents. 

As this portion of our State is rapidly developing ; as railroad lines are 
extending Westward from Burlington and Quincy to the Missouri river, to be 
connected with the great National Pacific Road— who will grow bold enough 
to predict the value of the C. B. & Q., stock in 18*76? 

Many minor interests have not been looked into for lack of time. But in the 
facts here given we have some results worthy of thought. Using round num- 
bers for convenience, we have of laborers — mostly mechanical (including the 
R. R. men) eleven hundred, with wages amounting to $660,000. We have an 
aggregate of business 

Stock and Produce $1 600 000 1 Flouring Mills $250 000 

Mercantile 2 C06 000 Meat Markets 100 000 

Manufactures 1 038 000 



Total $4 994 OOO 

It is fair to state the aggregate as |5,000,000, exclusive of many smaller 
branches of business, and also of the heavy Railroad business. 

Our business though increasing, is sound and healthy. Speculation for the 
future is not the work of these figures. They give the facts of the present. 
What now exists is far beyond the anticipations of the good men and women 
who looked over this prairie thirty years ago. But not for gain, not for any- 
thing less than a sound Christian education, did our Pioneer Fathers come. 

This should still be the great end. What we do to build up noble characters 
in ourselves, and in the generations to come, in the millions to dwell on this 
old magnificent '* Military Tract," is the great thing. 

In 1S36-7, a school was taught at the Grove, both in the common and acad- 
emic branches, by Prof. Losey and Miss Lucy Gay. Another school was opened 
in the winter of 1837 by Miss Fanny Hitchcock, (Mrs. Hayner) in a small-house 
— erected for this purpose — on the farm of Mr. Leonard Chappel, East of Mr. 
Samuel Hitchcock's. A singing school was also there taught. 

Prof. Churchill states that " a public school was opened in the winter of 

1839, in the second story of the Academy "building — then just completed — the 

one now occupied by Mr. Nelson as a furniture store— at the time it stood on the 

corner of Main and Cherry, -where the First National Bank is ,to be built this 
summer. 

"The first teacher was Mr. Van Meter, the man who has been so long at the 

head of the Howard Mission, N. Y, City. In a short time it was removed to a 

store building owned by Matthew Chambers, frontiuj^ what is now the Public 

Square — then wild prairie. In 1839 or '40, the first public school house was 

built under the direction of C. S. Colton. As the floor was inclined, all the 

old scholars will remember this building as a capital place to slide down hill in 

the spaces between the seats. Among the many teachers who held rule in this 



STATISTICAL PAPER. 



35 



house from 1840 to 1850, were Eli Farnham, Esq., James H, Noteware, since 
Superintendent ot Public Schools for Kansas, Mr. McCall, for many years a 
teacher in the South, and recently deceased, Mr. Marshal De Long, Mr. H. 
Guston, Mr, Deberard, Geo. Churchill, and ladies not a few. A bout the year 
1850 the district was divided and new school houses were built to accommo- 
date the rising generation. This sub-division went on till 1856, when 
there were in the town eight districts." 

During the year 1856, "these districts" — says Mr. J. B. Roberts, the present 
Superintendent of Public Schools — " were consolidated with a view to more 
efficient management and a better classification of the schools. No well 
devised measures for the promotion of these objects, however, were attempted 
until the year 1859. These measures were but partially successful, from the 
fact that the Board of Directors were limited in their powers, and still more 
in the means at their command. What could be done under these disabilities 
and with miserably poor and insufficient school accommodations, was done. In 
the year 1861, the schools were organized under a special charter from the Leg- 
islature, greatly enlarging the powers of the School Board, which now consists 
of six instead of three members. In the year 1865, these powers were still 
further enlarged by an amendment to the charter. The School Board have it 
now in their power, by an enlightened and liberal policy, to make the public 
schools no less the pride and honor of the city than its higher institutions of 
learning have been in the past. 

''During the School year just closed, there have been taught between fifteen 
and sixteen hundred different pupils. The average membership has been from 
nine hundred to a thousand. The number of teachers employed in '64 and '65 was 
eighteen. During the past year the number has been less, owing to limited 
school accommodations, as rooms previously occupied could no longer be 
rented. The public school buildings of Galesburg will seat 586 pupils. It will 
readily be understood why several of the schools have had only half-day ses- 
sions. The new edifice, when completed, will increase the number of sittings 
by about seven hundred. This building, aside from being the best proportioned 
and most comely structure of any kind in the city, will be, in its internal 
arrangements and appointments as perfect as possible. It will contain ten 
large school rooms, a hall for general exercises, public entertainments, and 
some smaller rooms to be used as recitation rooms and offices. The system of 
ventilation is novel, but proved by experience to be the most perfect yet 
devised. It is calculated that the entire body of air in each school room can 
be changed every twenty minutes without opening a door or window. It is 
expected that this building will be completed within the present year, at a cost 
of $40,000. Its stone tablet bearing the date " 1866," will be looked upon by 
generations to come as marking the completion of one of the noblest enter- 
prises in the history of our city." 

Prairie College (now Knox)'was the object for which Christian men and 
women organized and built up this colony. 



36 



STATISTICAL PAPER. 



This institution is still in its infancy, having graduated its first class just 
twenty years ago. Still it has done a good work, as the following statistics 
furnished by Prof. Churchill, plainly show : 

















<D 


00 








iS 


• 








































i 






i 


B 


. 


I 


P 








■s'l 


1 


•1 


"SS 


1 


1 

1 

o 


1 
1 


a 


o 

1 


<u 

e 


a 

'i 


6 




'S 
eg 


1 

ii 


1 

p 

•-5 


1 


a 
o 

699 


< 
626 


^1 

< 
1325 


1837 to 1846 
Inclusive. 


9 


9 


15 


29 


56 




109 












1847 to 1856 
Inclusive. 


69 


71 


101 


128 


199 




499 


40 


60 


85 


73 


218 


1471 


1149 


2620 


1857 to 1866 
































Inclusive. 


53 


58 


73 


107 


149 


38 


425 


78 


102 


125 


107 


334 


1213 


944 


2157 


1837 to 1866 
Inclusiva. 


131 


138 


189 


264 


404 


38 


1033 


118 


162 


210 


180 


552 


3383 


2719 


6102 



a 

° g 



1434 
3337 

2916 
7687 



Of the grand catalogue total of 7687 students, I estimate that there have 

been at least 6,000 different persons. The academic department was opened 

in 1837. First freshmen class in 1841 ; first class graduated in 1846; first 

class in the Seminary graduated in 1851. 

Greatest number in all departments for any one year was 442 in 1858 

" " " the College " " " " « 59 " 1855 

Least number in College lor any one year since 1847 was 32 " 1865 

Average number in College forlst Decade 36 1-3 Seminary Academy. ..132 1-3 

" " " " 2d " 49 9-10 " 31 1-7 " 215 7-10 

" *' " " " 3d " 42 1-2 " 33 2-5 " 203 2 5 

" " " " " three Decadea 42 41-45 •' 32 19-70 " 203 2-5 

Of the 181 gentlemen graduates eleven have died; thirty-eight are minis- 
ters ; twenty-four lawyers ; six physicians ; fourteen professors and teachers ; 
three foreign missionaries; three State Agents — Home Missionary Societies ; 
three foreign consuls; two Brevet-Brigadier Generals; forty-five officers and 
privates in army of volunteers. Some eight or ten have been members of the 
State Legislature, and others are bankers, merchants, manufacturers or farmers. 

For a dozen years after graduating its first class, this College was realizing 
the great idea of the colonists, was the main object of interest, and the power 
most felt in this community. With a growing population, increasing wealth* 
improved public schools, why should not the College have continued rising 
and kept pace with all the other real interests of the place ? 

The catalogue of Lombard University — just published gives the following 

summary : 

Collegiate Department Seniors 2 Juniors Sophomores 4 Freshmen 3 9 

Scientific " " 2 " 1 " 14 17 

Ladies' Collegiate " » 1 First year 10 11 

{Ancient and Modern Languages 46) 
Higher English 113 
Common " 48 



207 



Another educational organization, " The Young Men's Library Association," 
deserves mention. This association was founded in January, 1860, (a prelim- 
inary organization, formed in 1858, was merged in this,) and has 250 members 



STATISTICAL PAPER. 



37 



and a Library of 2850 volumes. All are entitled to its privileges upon, the pay- 
ment of a small sum. It is useful and prosperous. Its Library, managed as 
efficiently as now by Prof. Hurd, with annual additions, may, in future, be an 
honor to the city, as well as a blessing to many generations of young men. 

At the end of the first decade the principal object of general interest was 
this house of worship, which, though unfinished, was occupied in the summer 
of 1846. Here for twenty years the people of this town have held most of 
their public meetings, for lectures, concerts, and a great variety of purposes. 
To fit it for service for another decade it needs for improvements within and 
without, an expenditure of a few thousand dollars. 

At the end of the second decade the main College buildings were rising up 
to adorn the city. Now the main building is that for the High School. 

For the beautiful trees now shading this house, we are much indebted to a 
former pastor, Rev. C. M. Tyler. 

Our city, which, ten years ago gloried in but few trees besides the Locust, is 
now assuming the charming appearance of an Eastern village with its older 
trees, of Elm and Maple. More Elms, gentlemen ! more Elms ! for grace and 
majesty combined. 

Another generation will marvel that not till 1866 was there an enclosure or 
a tree in the centre of the Public Square, nothing on the bare earth but the 
Liberty Pole and city scales. Another marked improvement made in the last 
decade is in side walks. The first walk was built around "Colton's Block." 

Many amusing stories have been told of the loss of rubbers, shoes, and even 
of boots in the mud of those days, and of persons becoming not lost but 
"■fixtures." lu 1856 but few short spaces were covered with good walks. They 
now extend in all directions quite to the city limits, amounting in all to thirty 
miles in length, and costing not far from $50,000. 

A people of Puritan blood and spirit, with deep religious convictions and 
anti-slavery sentiments, and familiar with the business of the "Underground 
Railroad " would be sure to make a good record in a war for the salvation of 
the Republic. 

The following figures furnished by Miss M. A. West, make a fair show of the 

patriotism of Galesburg : 

^No. of men enlisted in the township 1200 I Amount of bounty paid $23 950 GO 

No. of men died in the army 100 ( Am't p'd by city to Soldiers families 16 000 

Total $S9 950 00 

Galbsburg Soldier's Aid Society for soldiers, and soldier's families, disbursed 

stores and money : 

In 1862 „ $2 397 82 I Till August 1865 $2 694 78 

In 1863., 2 686 66 

In 1864 5 806 89 | Total from Galesburg S. A. Society.il3 586 13 

Galesburg paid to the Sanitary and Christian Commissiins, aside from the S. A S'.....$6 614 73 
For Soldiers and Freedmen's Reading 2 199 10 



To all. $o2 340 10 

The facts of our Church History demand more space than can be afforded 
now, and will claim attention next February — when the First Church will be 
thirty years old. 



38 



FESTl^ 



AND EVENING EXERCISES- 



An incident in our early history is worthy of record. A Mr. Davis had 
enclosed forty acres of land, with the intention of " entering" it. But the land 
was included with the ''entries '' of the Purchasing Committee. So also was a 
farm of a hundred and twenty acres, occupied by a Mr. Lander. They 
thought the Yankees were sharp as " speculators," and felt in no way pleas- 
antly about it. But not long after the question was started at " a raising," 
whether the right to the forty acres of Mr. Davis would not be relinquished. 
The suggestion seemed reasonable, and was adopted. Whereupon Mr. Lander 
was encouraged to make a similar application, and was successful. " Well, 
now," said they, and the settlers about the Grove, " let the Yankees come- 
TTiey may educate om chUdrenV Who shall assign a market value to that high 
minded transaction ? With the confidence and good will of a community, an 
institution of learning may prosper, but not without such sympathy. 

This paper may not be closed without the names of two business men: the 
one removed in the early part of this last decade, and the other at its close. 
Silas Willard, and Albert G. Watkins. Other good men have here toiled and 
rested, but for none does the public heart cherish a profounder respect or 
deeper love. 

Greatness is in the end aimed at, and in the spirit with which business is 
transacted. The greatness of our Pioneer — as of our Pilgrim Fathers — was in 
the greatness of the faith and purpose with which they undertook " something 
good for mankind and God's glory in these remote parts of the earth." 

Let all our business men rise to the s ame hight, and be crowned with a like 
glory when all use of figures shall have passed away. 



FESTIVAL AND EVENING EXERCISES. 

At the close of the afternoon exercises the audience adjourned to the chapel 
for supper. This room — recently refitted — was tastefully decorated for the 
occasion. Across the wall, at the upper end, ran the words, in evergreen 
letters, " He hath led us, by a right way, to a city of habitation." Over the 
entrance was a pyramid of flowers, having on one side a model of a log house, 
with the words, "Log City, 1836," and on the other a modern house represent- 
ing "Galesburg, 1866." The houses were transparent, and when illuminated 
appeared finely. Festoons of evergreens, gracefully connecting the side walls 
with the chandelier, adorned the center. The tables were as inviting as shining 
silver, fragrant flowers, delicious viands, and attentive waiters could make them. 

The old folks' table was the rallying point for old settlers, and a happy group 
they seemed as they shook hands and laughed over reminiscences of 
the good old times. Over it presided one, who thirty years ago came here a 
bride, now assisted by the brides of her two sons. Outside, under a bower* 
between the chapel and gate, strawberries, ice-cream, and lemonade were strong 
attractions ; while under the refreshing shade of the trees the old folks renewed 
old friendships, and the young folks formed new ones, till eight o'clock in the 
evening, when Prof. Fuhrman, who presided at the organ during all the exer- 



FESTIVAL AND EVENING EXEReiSES. 



39 



cises, recalled the assembly to the Church, where addresses were made by Eev. 
H. Foote, first pastor of the Chtirch, who gave some pleasing reminiscences of 
early times— of the way people became " fixtures " in the mud— and how he 
had been shipwrecked in Cedar Fork— running his wagon tongue into the mud, 
so as nearly " to strike ile,"— leaving nothing to be seen of the wagon but the 
shadow of the end board ; by Rev. Geo. W. Duflfield, Jr., pastor of the Second 
Presbyterian Church, who in a happy speech, afl'ectionately claimed a place in 
the brotherhood ; by R. S. Hanneman, Esq., of Knoxville, who with J. G. San- 
born and their wives, were first to offer to the infant colony the right hand of 
fellowship from her five year old sister, who now owns the court house and 
poor farm. Also by several old settlers: Joseph Holyoke, Eli Farnham, J. G. 
West, Prof. H. E, Hitchcock, Marcus Belden, telling how he had " carted " 
water to run a mill at Knoxville, C. S. Colton, who explained the one per cent 
profits of the early days. Prof. Churchill intr oduced a choir of old settlers, 
who had not sung together for twenty years. They sang a piece which they 
had sung together at a musical Convention held in the old Academy, a quarter 
of a century ago, and several times during the evening quickened our memories 
of old times by their music. Letters were read from President Blanchard» 
Revs. Sanford Richardson, and W. E. Holyoke, expressing their deep interest 
in the occasion, and their regrets at not being able to be present. The closino- 
address was made by Rev. J. E. Roy, and was a fitting close to the exercises of 
the day. His tribute to the founders of the town and College was given most 
heartily, and his sketches of early days were graphic and pleasing. 



ERRATA 



Page 4-28th line, for "has," read "have saved." 
Page T-lastline, for "1855," read'«1835" 
Page 30_36th line, for <Wrket," read "a market" 
Page 32-3d line, for "locomotive," read "car." 
And add at the end of 4th linp • "Ti^n t .- t. . 

with a wing 60x60." ' ^^"^"""'"-^ Repair Shop, 00x180 

Page 38- 29th line, for "one, &o„" read" on single telegrams.- 

ins^rfeV '" "" '''' ''""'•"" """"'''""- P^™S™P" ^'-"'<' •'-e been 

"For the accommodation of this b^iness we have two Banks-the Firn 

! C:Tt,,tZ: "' d-lared,6 per cent, profits o.e,- dividen 

declared, ,vo 048 90; 6 per cent, retained as tax, $761,13. Second National 

aecjaied, $.,79o,6/ ; o per cent, retained as tax, $405,56." 



r 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




